Here and Now: Arizona Ballot Propositions
It's enough to make you say 'ENOUGH!' Arizona's 8 ballot initiatives aren't as many as a couple years ago, but wading through all the campaign literature to find out what a ballot measure really does can be maddening.
To make it easy for you, KJZZ's Here and Now gives you the info you need to know to better understand what the initiatives are, who's backing them, and what a 'yes' or 'no' vote really means. Propositions like prop 102--defining marriage as only between a man and women--is pretty cut and dry. But others aren't, such as prop 200's pay day loan reform and prop 202's amending of Arizona's employer sanctions law.
We may tell you what you need to know, but that doesn't mean we have all the answers, or questions. So tell us what you think and what questions you have about Arizona's ballot propositions.
Posted by
Paul Atkinson - Here and Now Producer at
11:00
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Comments (9)
Seeing the "Yes on 102" signs at nearly every corner makes me so sad - and angry. I do not understand why two people committing their love to each other is a threat to anyone or anyone else's business - it's ridiculous! My question is - is it possible now for gay couples to have a civil union in Arizona? If not how would the passing of 102 affect civil union laws in the future (in the hopes that Obama-Biden will follow through on promises regarding civil unions). How hard will is be in the future to overturn 102 and how likely is it that this would ever happen - I have to hope that someday our country will realize how hateful these marriage amendments are and overturn them.
I was just listening to the discussion about Prop 105..
Though I completely sympathize with the supporters of Prop 105 (being a Libertarian myself), their support is logically flawed.
The illogical & immorality of their support is made clear by proposing the opposite of what they propose.
The opposite would be to treat the the vote of all non-voters as being in support of an initiative.
This of course, is ridiculous...as it assumes that non-voters want a ballot measure to pass.
In the same, illogical way, Prop 105 wishes to assume that non-voters are opposed to a ballot measure.
Unless a person bothers to vote, there is no reliable (& legal) way to determine their position on a particular initiative.
If you don't vote, your (supposed) opinion does not count. (whatever opinion that might possibly be).
Thank you,
Tim
A good online resource for the AZ ballot measures:
BallotPedia [dot] org
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Arizona_2008_ballot_measures
Regarding Proposition 200: Payday Loans
The payday loan industry has funded this proposition to the tune of 9 million dollars. Why? Because they wanted to deceive the public by calling it "reform" when in reality the main purpose of this initiative is to allow them to stay in business. What Robert Robb didn't say in his newspaper column supporting it is that even though the "loans" can't be extended or "rolled over" the lender simply gets the borrower to take out a new loan. That is their business model and how they make their money. He doesn't mention that this is how they get borrowers to end up paying 391% annual interest and will be allowed to continue doing so. They don't call it interest; they disguise it as "fees." Arizona) go almost entirely out of state. Since it was first allowed to operate 7 or 8 years ago, the number of payday loan stores has expanded from 10 to over 700 in Arizona. In the 15 states in which payday loans have been banned, the industry has closed down. In a North Carolina study, it was found that most of the prior customers of payday loan stores eventually found other means.
Many organizations are against this proposition, including the state's attorney general.
We need to vote No on Prop. 200
I did an interview with the executive editor of Ballotpedia a week and a half ago. It is an excellent resource. The interview URL is below:
http://www.kjzz.org/news/arizona/archives/200809/electionwebsites
Why hasn't one elected official come out in favor of Prop 200 if this is such a good idea? You have very few endorsements. Seems very telling.
Prop 200 is a scam created by professional scammers, aka payday lenders. It would be just so ridiculous to vote for a law to protect the henhouse that was written by the fox! Why would the payday lenders spend $12 million to pass a law that really reformed them and cut into their profits? 400% interest? Come on, we know better.
This is the 3rd most expensive ballot initiative in Arizona history. The payday lenders are spending $12 million to buy television ads and direct mail that only try to deceive voters. This is not a reform. No industry spends $12 million to reform itself. This is the payday loan industry going around the legislature in order to write their own laws. And if it passes, we would have little recourse in changing the law. This seems like an awfully big gamble in such a fragile economy. I think no is the only way to go.
I listened to the program but want to share it with others. I can't see how to listen to it online. Please tell me how!
Thanks.
